Portugal

Portugal
source
Conventional long name	Portuguese Republic
Capital	Lisbon
Largest city	Lisbon
Official languages	Portuguese
Demonym	Portuguese
Government type	Unitary semi-presidential republic
Leader title1	President
Leader name1	Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Leader title2	Prime Minister
Leader name2	Luís Montenegro
Legislature	Assembly of the Republic
Area km2	92,212
Population estimate	10.3 million
Population estimate year	2023

Portugal. A nation located on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe, it is the westernmost country of mainland Europe. Bordered by Spain to the north and east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, its territory also includes the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. With a rich history of global exploration and empire, it is a developed country with a high-income advanced economy and a significant cultural legacy.

History

The region was part of the Roman Empire, later inhabited by Germanic peoples like the Suebi and Visigoths, before the Umayyad conquest in 711. The Reconquista saw the formation of the County of Portugal, which gained independence from the Kingdom of León after the Battle of São Mamede in 1128, with Afonso Henriques proclaimed king following the Battle of Ourique. The Treaty of Zamora in 1143 solidified its status. The Age of Discovery, initiated by figures like Prince Henry the Navigator, led to a vast empire including Portuguese India, Brazil, and territories in Africa and Asia, established by navigators such as Vasco da Gama and Pedro Álvares Cabral. The Portuguese Empire declined after events like the Iberian Union with Spain and the destruction of Lisbon in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The Liberal Wars, the end of the monarchy in 1910, and the subsequent First Portuguese Republic were followed by the authoritarian Estado Novo regime under António de Oliveira Salazar. The Carnation Revolution of 1974 restored democracy and led to the independence of its African colonies, such as Angola and Mozambique. It later joined the European Economic Community, now the European Union, in 1986.

Geography

Mainland territory is split by the Tagus River, with mountainous regions north of the river including the Serra da Estrela and plains to the south in the Alentejo. The coastline features prominent features like the Cabo da Roca and the Ria Formosa. The Azores archipelago, located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, is volcanic, with Pico Island hosting Mount Pico, the highest peak. The Madeira archipelago is known for its laurisilva forests. Major rivers originating in Spain include the Douro, the Tagus, and the Guadiana. The climate is predominantly Mediterranean, with a maritime temperate climate in the north and some semi-arid conditions in the Algarve.

Government and politics

It is a democratic republic with a semi-presidential system. The President, currently Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, is the head of state, while the Prime Minister, currently Luís Montenegro, heads the Government of Portugal. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Assembly of the Republic, located in São Bento Palace. The main political parties include the Social Democratic Party, the Socialist Party, and the Chega party. The judiciary is independent, with the highest courts being the Supreme Court of Justice and the Constitutional Court. It is a founding member of NATO and a member state of the European Union, participating in the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.

Economy

Classified as a developed country, it has a mixed economy that was traditionally based on agriculture, fishing, and textiles. Major industries now include tourism, with key destinations like the Algarve and Lisbon, automotive manufacturing with plants for Stellantis and Volkswagen Group, technology, and cork production, for which it is the world's leading exporter. Important companies include Galp in energy, EDP Renováveis in utilities, and The Navigator Company in paper. The Porto region is famous for port wine, while other significant exports include olive oil and footwear. The 2008–2014 Portuguese financial crisis led to a bailout program from the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

Demographics

The population is predominantly ethnically homogeneous, with the majority being ethnic Portuguese. The largest metropolitan area is centered on Lisbon, followed by Porto. Since the 1990s, there has been significant immigration, particularly from Brazil, Ukraine, Cape Verde, Angola, and Romania. The Roman Catholic Church is the dominant religion, with important sites including the Sanctuary of Fátima. The Portuguese language, derived from Galician-Portuguese, is the official language and a major world language spoken in Lusophone countries like Brazil and Mozambique. Minorities speak Mirandese, officially recognized in the municipality of Miranda do Douro.

Culture

Its culture is rooted in Celtic, Lusitanian, Roman, Germanic, and Moorish influences. It is famous for Fado, a melancholic music genre, associated with singers like Amália Rodrigues. Traditional Azulejo tilework adorns many buildings. Portuguese literature includes epic works like The Lusiads by Luís de Camões and modern authors such as José Saramago, a Nobel Prize in Literature winner. Portuguese cuisine features bacalhau (salted cod), pastel de nata, and caldo verde. Major cultural events include the Festival of Saint John in Porto and the University of Coimbra's academic traditions. In sports, football is immensely popular, with legendary players like Eusébio and Cristiano Ronaldo, and clubs such as S.L. Benfica and F.C. Porto achieving success in competitions like the UEFA Champions League.

Category:Portugal Category:European Union member states Category:Iberian Peninsula